THE CITY REBORN FROM THE ASHES OF AMERICA'S MOST DISASTROUS FOREST FIRE

Crivitz Downs Suring; Marines Win Twice Share Top Spot

Issue Date: January 24, 2018

Crivitz came away with a 75-64 win over the Suring Eagles in a matchup of the top two M&O Conference basketball teams on Friday, with balanced scoring and a 40-point first half powering the Wolverines to victory.

The Wolverines led 40-25 at the half, despite the best efforts of Ryan Mahoney, who finished the game with 29 points. Cody Smith and Caleb Lally each had 10 for the Eagles, but they were no match for the Wolverines, who had seven players score and four reach double figures.

"It's a great thing to have balance, as long as one of those guys steps up when you need him in crunch time," Crivitz Coach Jeff Baumann said. "As long I get guys that step up at the end of the game, I'll take the four or five nine or ten-point guys, because it's pretty tough to coach against a team when you don't have one guy to focus on."

Shane Bauer, Jakob Voss and Charles Johnson were the ones to step up and put the ball in the bucket on Friday, with Bauer getting 17 on 6-11 shooting, making two of five three-point shots.

Voss scored 16, making 5-12 from the field and 7-8 at the free throw line. Johnson might have had the best game of anyone, however, grabbing 12 rebounds and getting his 16 points on a very efficient 7-11 shooting line.

The trio stepped up in a game that was the Wolverines' biggest game of the year, though the team didn't want to make too big of a deal out of it.

"We've talked all week about this being almost a must-win for us," Baumann said. "The first thing I said in the locker room was "let's not make this our Super Bowl and get all wound up tight. After this game if we're fortunate enough to win, we'll have some other big games that we're going to have to win in order to stay in the race.'"

The Wolverines made 28-52 shots from the field, a big improvement from the last time they played Suring, when they shot below 30 percent from the field and in the paint.

Suring tried to make a push at the end of the game, scoring 39 in the second half, but Crivitz held on to get the 11-point win.

"We've had a habit all year of not playing 36 minutes," Baumann said. "I think our biggest area of need is just playing 36 minutes of smart, intense basketball."

Jaden Werner had 10 points on six shots, while Travis Giese totaled nine on 4-6 shooting.

The win ties the Wolverines and Eagles atop the M&O Conference, with Coleman trailing by half a game at 7-1.

Marines Corral Mustangs to Stay on Top of NEC

The Marinette Marines entered Friday's game with the Little Chute Mustangs in a tie for first place atop the North Eastern Conference Standings, but the Marines came away with a 63-59 win to claim sole possession of the NEC penthouse.

After the Marines went down early and trailed 32-27 at the half, things weren't looking very promising, as the win even surprised Coach Nick Semenas.

"I don't know how we won this game," he said following the win.

"I would probably say nerves," Semenas said when asked what went into the team's sluggish start. "Offensively, we were forcing things. When the moment gets big, our guys want to step up to the moment, but sometimes they don't understand that we have to do that in a way that's within the offense."

Jake Poetzl led the team with 21 points, while Matt Wagner had 17 and Tyler Fayta had 10. Jordan Wendt finished with nine.

Rebounding was a key takeaway for Semenas, who said the team made an adjustment in focus to win the rebounding battle 32-30. "It was just a focus thing," he said. "You talk about rebounding all the time, but it's just about focusing, boxing out and just doing it."

Another adjustment he noted was taking the ball out of Noah Mueller's hands, as the Mustangs' best scorer finished with 17 points on 6-13 shooting, including 5-12 from beyond the arc. Keenan Stevens had 14 for the Mustangs.

Poetzl's 21 put him nine points shy of 1,000, a total he would reach in the Marines' next game on Tuesday.

Poetzl Hits 1000th point in Win Over Freedom

The Marinette Marine Boys Basketball Team came away with another big home victory Tuesday night outlasting the Freedom Irish 56-51. "I think that's great for us in the playoffs. Obviously we don't want to be in these tough, nail-biting games every game but at the same time, it's also a good test for us," said Marine coach.

Adding to the excitement Marine junior Jake Poetzl reached a career milestone, scoring his 1000th point on a drive to the basket with just under 13:30 left to play in the contest. Poetzl commented on reaching the 1000 point mark after the game. "I didn't want to think about it and I just wanted to play and do my thing, not worry about that. It's just in the back of your mind, so it was nice to just get that off of my shoulders," said Poetzl.

"I'm so proud and so happy to see a kid like him get rewarded," said Semenas. "He's someone who's put in years and years of work, and it's cool to see because I met him when he was a fifth or sixth grader and it's just cool to see the progression and see that determination pay off."

Marine Coach Semenas had high praise for Freedom after the game. "Freedom always comes in and grinds."

"Every year since I was a freshman they've always played super hard, no matter who it is, and that's how we're trying to be, playing the same every game no matter who we play," said Poetzl. "Their defense is tough. They play a tough brand of defense."

In a very tight contest Marinette took the lead for good on a Matt Wagner layup with three minutes left that made the score 51-49. Freedom scored with 25 seconds left to cut Marinette's lead to one but Poetzl free throws and missed chances by Freedom sealed the victory. Matt Wagner led the Marines with 22 points. Poetzl scored 18, Jordan Wendt hit for 8 and Tyler Fayta and Walker Stroming added 4 each.

"We've got a lot of games on the road coming up. No matter what, we're going to be in some tight games, and I'm hoping this gets our guys ready for that moment and hopefully when playoffs come we're ready to make some big plays as well," Semenas added.

Rangers Roll Badgers

The Wausaukee Rangers, behind a 30 point first half performance were able blast their way to a 56-47 victory over the hosting Niagara Badgers Friday night.

When examining the second half of play the game's final readout should have been much closer, after the final buzzer the two teams had battled hard for a 36-33 second half differential in favor of the Rangers. The true difference came in the slow start for the Badgers where the Rangers were able to make ground with a 30-19 readout going into the half.

The big first half led was keyed by Wausaukee's Gruszynski who fired in 10 points. Hayden Renikow kept consistent over the game with seven to start the game and six to close.

By the end of the game Renikow was the evenings top scorer with 13. Gruszynski got 12 while Christian Shigouri added on 12.

"We really shot poorly over the first half," said Niagara Head Coach Jim Hoogland. "Our defense is not where it needs to be. We played much better in the second half, we just need to get out coinfiendec shooting the ball back."

Niagara was led by Alex Hagerty with 12 points, Zak Prideaux with 11 and Austin Hagerty with eight points.

STAA Staves Off Oneida Nation

The St. Thomas Aquinas Cavaliers held onto the lead against the Oneida Nation Thunderhawks to come away with a 69-59 victory.

Two Cavies really proved their worth in this one, Tyler Stuart and Jack Farley combined on the evening to give their team 59 points. Farley took top scoring honors with 24 while Stuart added on an exemplary 25 point performance.

Oneida was led by Richard Summers with 15 points.

Suring Slaps Niagara With Loss

The String Eagles, hosting the Niagara Badgers, were able to out do the visiting basketball forces 52-32.

Suring's Ryan Mahoney fired in a couple three pointers over the first while Caleb Lally bolstered his teams lead with nine points.

During replicated its first framer mark of 26 points over the second while the Badgers put up 17 points to close.

Mahoney and Mitch Stegeman shared in the top scoring honors with 14 points each while Lally ended the game with 13.

Niagara was led by Tristian DeJardin with 12 points. Ben Oratch got seven while Zak Prideaux chipped in five.

Both Evan Beaster and Kaden Schuls were able to make it to 21 points each while Riley Hixon had 12 and Paul Millan 10 points.

STAA Slams Gillett

Behind huge first halves by Christian Hornick and Jack Farley the Cavies were able to bump themselves up to a 29-17 lead entering the half. In those opening minutes Hornick fired in 11 points while Farley connected for a whopping 20 point readout.

By the end of the game Farley had amassed 30 points while Hornick followed up with 18. Tyler Stuart also had a great evening, scoring 13 points.

Ben Frank led the Tigers with 10 points while Cole Long chipped in eight. Anthony Carroll got seven on the night.

Wolverines Shellack Wildcats

The Crivitz Wolverines, who sit near the top of the conference rankings took on cellar dwelling Lena Tuesday night and were rewarded with a undeniable 84-39 win.

Big first halves b y nearly every Wolverine helped to propel the Crivitz boys to an early 54-17 lead at the half. Shane Bauer went to the long range artillery over the first, sinking three titles along with four in close buckets and a free throw. Travis Gives battled for 11 first half points.

After another 30 points scored by the Wolverines in the second and a 22 point answer by the Wildcats the Wolverines had all they needed to take the win and then some.

Bauer was the games top scorer with 22 points and was followed by teammate Giese with 17. Charlie Johnsen added on 11 while Jaden Werner and Dawson Angriest both chipped in eight each.

Coleman Cruises Past Rangers

The Coleman Cougars had no issue handling the Wausaukee Rangers Tuesday night as they cruised to a solid 64-30 win.

Coleman struck early and often and never looked back as big first halves from Cole Woulf and Payton Nelson pushed the Cougars to a 31-15 lead at the half.

The Rangers mustered up another 15 points over the second half, but it proved to be to little in the face of Coleman's 33 point second half effort which was led by Austin Marquardt and Aaron Fraser.

By the end of the game Coleman's Woulf had amassed 17 points for his Cougars. Fraser chipped in 13 while Marquardt added 11.

Wausaukee was led by Christian Shigouri and Thomson who both got six on the night.

Maroons Get Run Over By Flivvers

The Menominee Maroons hosted the Kingsford Flivvers Tuesday night for a pounded that the Maroons most assuredly would like to have back, as the Flivs took the "W" by way of a 66-44 readout.

Menominee kept pace over the opening minutes as the first quarter ended with the score close 16-14 in favor of the Flivs.

It was a stuck in the mud second that would ultimately spell doom for the Maroons as the Kingsford boys built a lead and held the Maroons to just 4 second quarter points.

At the half it was all Flivvers 35-18.

Menominee managed to outscore the Flivvers during the third quarter taking the frames scoring by one point 15-14 but again found themselves fighting from the bottom of an ever deepening hole as the Flivver closed strong with a 17-11 fourth quarter verdict.

Menominee's Kuester led the Maroons with 16 points while Anderson chipped in nine.

Goodman-Pembine Falls In Close Contest with Laona-Wabeno

The Goodman Pembine Patriots battled hard against the Laona-Wabeno Rebels tuesday night but were handed a 49-43 loss at the hands of the Rebels.

"We were able to start quick and get some shots to drop early with some good ball movement," said Patriot Head Coach John Swick. "This was our most complete game this season and I couldn't be more proud of my guys for their efforts on both ends of the floor. Down by one at the half we felt we just needed to fine tune some minor things and just keep playing our game. We fought back from ten down and had chances to win, but I give Laona-Wabeno credit for hitting their free throws down the stretch to close it out."